One South West derby, two Oriental derbies and the clash between two former NPFL kings are among the exciting league fixtures to be on the lookout for this weekend writes TUNDE LIADI in this report taken from The Nation.

Two Oriental derbies are available for your weekend delight in Enugu and Aba while Shooting Stars will host Lobi Stars in Ibadan as Rivers United welcome Plateau United to Port Harcourt in clash of past Nigeria Premier Football League champions as Matchday 30 fixtures are on the menu at different 9 centres.

Three games are billed for today while the remaining seven goals are slated for tomorrow.

At the Pantami Stadium, Gombe, Doma United will host Remo Stars, seeking an end to their poor performance at home and also shaken off the disappointment of their 4-0 loss to Plateau United in Jos last weekend. The Savannah Tigers have won just a solitary game in their last 12 games and with just six points away from the relegation zone, Doma United are in dire need of a win if they do not want to suffer serious implosion in their second season in the topflight.

Remo Stars on the other hand will do their determined zeal to win the league title a big boost with an away win in Gombe. They are third with 49 points from 28 games and with an outstanding home game (versus Rivers United) yet to be played. The Sky Blue Stars will almost guarantee themselves the league shield with one more away win from the remaining games if other results go in their favour.

Daniel Ogunmodede’s side have stabilized a little since they lost back to back away games to Sporting Lagos and Shooting Stars in recent South West derbies and have gone three games without a defeat ever since. Can they extend their unbeaten streak?

In another game billed for today, two struggling sides, Bendel Insurance and Kano Pillars will lock horns at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. Insurance ended two successive league defeats, in Ilorin, where they forced their hosts, Kwara United to a 1-1 draw while Kano Pillars are without a point in their last two games also. They even suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Shooting Stars, the second time they would be beaten at home this season. It is arguably the first time that would be happening.

The game is a must win for both teams with the Benin Arsenals in the 10th spot with 38 points while Kano Pillars are two spots above with 41 points.

The third game to be played today is an Oriental derby fixture in Enugu between league leaders, Enugu Rangers and Abia Warriors. This fixture has produced exciting moments and fascinating outcome in the past but the Flying Antelopes need a win to remain atop with Lobi Stars, Remo Stars and Enyimba breathing down their neck.

Tomorrow, Bayelsa United will hope to consolidate on their away point in Akure against Sunshine Stars when Katsina United visit them in Yenagoa. The Prosperity Boys were fortunate to walk away with the three points against Heartland FC in their last home fixture, will they be fortunate again against the Chanji Boys?

Bayelsa United are 15th with 35 points but with just four points off the relegation zone, they know they cannot slack. Katsina United are also nursing the hope of a continental ticket, and a good result in Yenagoa will add up to their present 44 points and improve their position better than current seventh spot.

In Lagos, Sporting Lagos will welcome Sunshine Stars in another South West derby while Enyimba, who are currently fourth on the log with 48 points will host Oriental brothers, Heartland FC in Aba. It is a game that holds contrasting fortunes for both teams. The People’s Elephant will move to the top three with a home win but the Naze Millionaires are still nurturing topflight safety and need all the results they can accumulate to get out of their present situation. Enyimba pipped Heartland FC 1-0 in Owerri in the first round to end a chain of consecutive winless streaks against the Naze Millionaires. Will the outcome be different this term?

In Ibadan, Shooting Stars will strive to record third straight victory for the first time in the ongoing season when they host second placed Lobi Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan. The Oluyole Warriors’ form has been barnstorming in the second stanza as they sauntered to the sixth spot with 46 points from 29 games. They have accumulated 20 points from just 10 games played in the second round. The former league champions have recorded two away wins and two away draws in the second stanza alone as against 26 points they got throughout the first round from 19 games. They only amassed three away points in the whole of the first round.

Gbenga Ogunbote was shrewd with the players he brought to Shooting Stars during the mid-season and the goals of Christian Pyagbara has been crucial to the Oluyole Warriors’ resurgence in the second stanza. Can they beat the Pride of Benue who are second on the log with 51 points and know that they need to get a good away result especially in Ibadan to stay in reckoning for the league title?

It is the battle of two relegation haunted side in Gombe tomorrow. Gombe United are last on the log with 22 points following two consecutive infractions of the NPFL frameworks which led to their being docked three points twice. They will be up against Kwara United who are in 16th spot with 33 points and are aware anything other than the maximum points in Gombe would take them back to the drop zone.

Underfire Akwa United will welcome in-form Niger Tornadoes to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo tomorrow for a must win league tie. Muhammad Babaganaru’s return to the dugout as the Promise Keepers head coach has not started well. He has lost his opening two games at the helms including the 1-0 home defeat to Doma United on his debut. Akwa United started poorly in Ikenne against Remo Stars and were 2-0 down in the first half. They improved steadily in the second half and got a goal but still lost the match 2-1.

The Promise Keepers are 18th on the log with 31 points and anything other than a win could spell doom to them. They are up against Majin Muhammed led Tornadoes who have won two of their last three away games. The Ikon Allah Boys are now comfortable on the league table in ninth spot with 39 points even with a game at hand against Rivers United in Port Harcourt.

The concluding fixture of the weekend is the epic tie between Rivers United and Plateau United in Port Harcourt. The Pride of Rivers were bundled out of the CAF Confederation Cup by USM Alger in Algeria last weekend 2-1 on aggregate. They are also in the relegation zone because of the games they have at hand (six) due to their involvement in CAF clubs competition.

Rivers United will face rejuvenated Plateau United who recovered from three straight defeats to pound Doma United 4-0 last weekend in Jos. The Peace Boys are currently fifth with 47 points but an away win in Port Harcourt would be massive as they continue to negotiate how they can finish in the top three at the end of the season. (The nation)

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